SCRIPTURE: Revelation 15-16 “But they refused to repent and glorify him… but they refused to repent of what they had done. (Revelation 15:9,11) John’s vision continues to pick up images from the OT, here the plagues against Pharoah and Egypt. These plagues are not final judgments, but invitations of tough love for hardened sinners. ‘Can’t you see,…
Author: Norm
The serpent will be crushed!
SCRIPTURE: Revelation 12-14 “I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.” (Revelation 14:14) The signs here come from Genesis 3:15, the battle between the offspring of the woman and…
God’s hand behind it all!
SCRIPTURE: Acts 27:39-44 “But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan.” (Acts 27:43) I love the layers in this chapter of the story. On the surface, we have the soldiers preparing to kill the prisoners, including Paul. We have the centurion wanting to spare Paul’s life – for some…
Where is your focus?
SCRIPTURE: Acts 27:27-38 “After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all.” (Acts 27:35) When is the last time you gave thanks in the middle of a crisis? During that crisis, were you calm, trusting in God, leaving things in His hands? Which do you think is more…
Ripples of grace
SCRIPTURE: Acts 27:13-26 “God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” (Acts 27:24) God has always intended to bless others through us, and vice versa. Just as sin affects those beyond the sinner, so does grace… and grace is greater than sin! As servants of God and followers of Jesus, we are…
Reflecting the kindness of God
SCRIPTURE: Acts 27:1-12 “Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs.” (Acts 27:3) Paul is a prisoner, being taken to face charges before Caesar in Rome. This centurion is a servant of Rome, loyal to Caesar, yet he is not evil. The fruit of kindness is…
May the humble rejoice in hope!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 149 “For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.” (Psalm 149:4) The people of Israel represent all the ‘underdogs’ of history. God takes this weak, oppressed, slave nation, and organizes them to restore God’s justice and peace. This is who God means Israel to be, though they do not…
How sweet the Name!
SCRIPTURE: Revelation 9-11 “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’” The sweet message of Jesus has been given to us to share with others. But sharing it will turn our stomachs sour, because of how we are treated for it. Like…
We shall overcome!
SCRIPTURE: Revelation 6-8 “I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord… (Revelation 6:9-10) These revelations were to encourage persecuted believers. However you read these visions, don’t miss this main…
A faith that demonstrates
SCRIPTURE: Acts 26:19-32 “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.” (Acts 26:20) We were made to live with, like and for God, as His God-like rulers. Sin is turning away from God, from His character, from His purpose. The kingdom of light has become a dominion of…